* From the comptroller’s office…
A notice of intent to appeal was filed Tuesday in the Legislator Pay case. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office filed the notice on behalf of Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza with the First District Appellate Court in Chicago.
Comptroller Mendoza believes there is a sound policy reason, given the absence of a balanced state budget, to prioritize payments to the state’s most vulnerable – hospice care; child care; meals on wheels for seniors – ahead of paychecks for elected officials.
The motion is here.
They should appeal this case, if for no other reason than we ought to know once and for all if the executive branch has the constitutional authority to starve out legislators.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Deputy Governor Leslie Munger released the following statement on Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s decision to appeal the judge’s ruling on lawmaker pay.
“We appreciate that Comptroller Mendoza will appeal the Court’s ruling, but frankly, it’s too little too late. Before the ink was dry on the judge’s order, she expedited payments for all eight months of lawmaker back pay costing taxpayers more than $8 million and causing more delays for human service organizations. She had the chance to ask the Court to keep politicians, including herself, from being prioritized for payment from the state but she declined. It’s clear that Comptroller Mendoza’s priorities are to help herself and her friends in the legislature at the expense of those most in need.”
Deputy Governor Munger will be available for interviews. Please contact Eleni Demertzis for availability.
And, yes, I put that response on the wrong post earlier. Weird day.
* Related…
* Mendoza, Munger and Rauner locked in endless campaign: It’s been nearly five months since Democrat Susana Mendoza defeated the governor’s hand-picked candidate Leslie Munger in the state comptroller’s race – but it’s almost as if the campaign never ended. Mendoza again lashed out Tuesday at Gov. Bruce Rauner, criticizing his “inability” to propose a budget, while dubbing him “the worst governor that’s ever served this state.” In response, Munger, whom Rauner appointed deputy governor with a $138,00 salary after her defeat, urged her former competitor to look in the “mirror,” instead of point fingers over who’s to blame for the “sorry condition of our state.”
- John Rawl - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:06 am:
Yeah but she already paid them. Was just looking for an excuse to pay her fellow career politicians
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:08 am:
===Was just looking for an excuse to pay her fellow career politicians===
Yeah a court order. Ugh. Geez, Louise…
To the Post,
Yes, thank you. Appeal all the way to the ILSC. Settle this, one way or another.
- walker - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:42 am:
Looks like Rauner stopped punching down, and threw Munger into the ring.
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:47 am:
Hopefully the public will be reminded in news accounts that this is timing. No one is denying the paychecks, but those are in the queue behind some pressing other obligations. Every vendor is suffering these delays and the GA should be treated likewise.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 10:54 am:
===Every vendor is suffering these delays and the GA should be treated likewise.===
No. Keep up, please.
Munger said without a budget, legislators would be in the line with everyone. “Fine”… Find until her Chief of Staff, after the stopgap was passed continued to ignore the constitution and his boss’ oath by “reassessing” the pay issue.
No, the move exactly after the Chief of Staff felt Munger’s oath was utterly useless, then it became a real “Quinn-like” grandstand, with Comptroller Munger dictating pay.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:04 am:
C-ing Her Political A–, is what this is.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:37 am:
==No one is denying the paychecks, but those are in the queue==
So what other things does the Comptroller get to put in the que? State employee paychecks? Where does the Comptroller’s authority end?
This needs to be decided once and for all and heaven help us if the Court gives a Comptroller the power over people’s paychecks.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 11:39 am:
===and the GA should be treated likewise===
And your legal citation on that is… ? Asking for a friend.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
I continue to not understand why State employees paychecks go out twice a month like clockwork but legislator paychecks should not.
I know quite a few State employees that make considerably more than legislators so the “paycheck to paycheck” argument doesn’t apply only to State employees.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
Every morning Munger says, “Mirror, mirror on the wall…”
- sharkette - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
“Demoralized “So what other things does the Comptroller get to put in the que? State employee paychecks? Where does the Comptroller’s authority end? ”
I did not know she is in charge of appropriation distributions either, nor that her “pet projects” are more important than any ones are, nor her legal authority to decide who gets what… All vendors need to be paid for services contracted.. services delivered, services & or products approved and appropriated whether she “likes” it or not.
The legislators need to bring a bill to the floor to vote.
She needs to stop with her endless drama
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
- sharkette -
You grasp on budgeting, the constitution, the duties of the Constitutional Officers, appropriations… there sense to be a real disconnect.
There’s the legality, and what people what that is “popular”
Hopefully with State Employee and Legislstors pay winding their way through the courts, we can have the ILGA really clarify who is concerned about the law, and who is running sham ideas, Constitutional or not.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
Sharkette- Please be careful what you say about Mendoza. Clearly certain people continued to give her a pass on this pay issue till the courts intervened. Munger was constantly called out but the queen of drama wasn’t. And isn’t it ironic that she got hammered in a Oped and now decide to appeal.
My question is are the legislators paid up to date now and did Mendoza get herself paid up to date?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
===Clearly certain people continued to give her a pass on this pay issue till the courts intervened. Munger was constantly called out but the queen of drama wasn’t.===
Really? Who are these certain people?
I hammered Mendoza pretty hard with her Ads about the pay…
- The Captain - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
Is Munger campaigning for her old job while on the state payroll as Deputy Governor? It kind of looks like it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
-OW- Calling her out during the election over her Ads is far different then after being elected. Just maybe your objectivity over this,is blinded by your complete disdain for Rauner. I seldom disagree with your opinion but on this one, your called out…,,
- A Jack - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 1:55 pm:
So what has Munger done to deserve her very large paycheck?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 2:50 pm:
-So what has Munger done to deserve her very large paycheck?-
Well she is Rauners lap dog. So there is that.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 29, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
===Calling her out during the election over her Ads is far different then after being elected===
…and yet, you can’t point to where I’ve given Mendoza a break.
Good try thou, lol, ” - Anonymous - ”
===I seldom disagree with your opinion but on this one, your called out…====
LOL!
Yeah, ok…
Mendoza is now doing right, appealing and paying. I’ve explained it, many times, consistent all the way through.
Munger is continuing to be a blinded Wingman.